The object of this scientific study is the influence of the irrigation system on the historical development of Ancient Khorezm in the chronological range from the classical era to the Middle Ages inclusive, and the subject is the role of irrigation in the development of Ancient Khorezm in the research of Soviet archaeologists of the mid-20th century (1950-1970s). The relationship between the construction and operation of irrigation systems and the economic, social and political development of the region is examined. To achieve the goal of the work and identify correlations between the state of the irrigation infrastructure and the social organization of society, with an emphasis on the impact of changes in the natural environment and technical innovations on the economic and socio-cultural dynamics of the region in the research of Soviet archaeologists of the 1950s-1970s, the author conducted a critical analysis of historical and literary materials and examined theoretical concepts regarding the significance of hydraulic structures in the development of ancient Eastern civilizations, applying a comparative analysis of the archaeological interpretation of empirical material. The results of the Khorezm Archaeological and Ethnographic Expedition's fieldwork were summarized. These included geomorphological mapping, spatial and temporal characteristics of hydrosystem functioning through visualization and reconstruction of waterway routes in Soviet archaeological research from the 1950s to 1970s, and quantitative modeling of the labor force and material investment required to construct and operate artificial canals. The study of the ancient irrigation network allowed Soviet researchers in the 1950s and 1970s to conclude that the socioeconomic structure of the ancient Khorezmian state was closely linked to the creation of artificial regulation systems for the Amu Darya River. Calculations of the labor costs involved in creating these systems suggested the use of slave labor alongside that of free community members. A study of the most important changes in the irrigation network of ancient Khorezm has shown that they correspond to key periods of society's socioeconomic development, transitioning from primitive society to communal slavery and feudal systems. A groundbreaking aspect of the scientific work of Soviet archaeologists in the second third of the 20th century was the establishment of a detailed relationship between the degree of development of irrigation infrastructure and the nature of the socioeconomic structures of ancient Khorezm, as well as the determination of precise parameters for the labor intensity of construction and maintenance of engineering facilities.
Elena Barinova (Thu,) studied this question.